Case ejector for guns



Dec. 6, 1,955 G. P. GRAvENHoRsT E-r AL CASE EJECTOR FOR GUNS Filed Nov.14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1955 G. P. GRAvENHoRsT Er AL 2,725,791

CASE EJECTOR FOR GUNS Filed Nov. 14, 1949 3 SheetsSheet 2 ec 6, 1955 G.P. GRAvENHoRsT Er AL 2,725,791

CASE EJECTOR FOR GUNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 @QH El c: rIN VEN TORS 60H00 H @EVEN/HORST;

BY raf/HTFR A.

United States Patent ddee CASE EJECTR FOR GUNS Gordon P. Gravenhorst,Middle River, and Henry H. Franz and William A. Snow, Baltimore, andWalter L. Black, Middle River, Md., assignors to The Glenn L. MarlinCompany, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland ApplicationNovember 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,082 S Claims. (Cl. 8933) Thisinventionrelates to a case ejector for any type machine gun but more particularlyfor the type which is installed in a rotatable gun turret of the kindused on airplanes.

The degree of utility of a machine gun turret lies in its being able todirect its fire in many directions while the turret base is maintainedeifectively in a ixed position. Knowing this, it is apparent that inorder to make a turret assembly more usefulV and eiective, one` causesthe ejected cases to fall back into the ejectionV slot, thus creating ajam.

It is of utmost importance for any weapon, especially one of this type,to be dependable and rugged. The possibilities of failure must bethoroughly investigated and overcome. Through such an investigation fora possible failure in the operation of a machine gun to be used for thepurpose mentioned, this mechanism was developed which will eliminate gunjamming caused by improper case ejection. With thiswmechanism, the gunmay be red in any plane of rotation and the cases ejected withcomparable ease and etliciency.

Itis an object of this invention to improve the operational features ofa machine gun by use of a new type power-operated case ejector.

Another object of this invention is to allow greater movement andconsequently greater coverage of a machine g`un and its turret.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate gun jamming, thusimproving the dependability of such a weapon.

Another object of this invention is to permit turrets 'to be mounted atany desired angle and on any section of the fuselage without impairingthe operation of its guns.

Another object of this invention is to positively eject empty cases to apoint outside the confines of the turret regardless of the position ofthe turret or the gun therein -at a particular time.

Further and other objects will become apparent from the description ofthe accompanying drawing which form a part of this disclosure and inwhich like numerals refer Vto like parts.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary view looking downward on a turret and itssupporting structure and showing a case ejector mounted on the machinegun assembly therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the case ejector shown mountedin Figure 1.

of the case ejector shown Figure 3 is a side view in Figure 2.

nism 15 is provided with a secure pulley supports 27 and 28.

l ing with the belts to properly orient the 2,725,791 Patented Dec. 6,1955 Turret 1 shown in Figure 1 is supported by structure 2 extendingcircumferentially around the turret and Vbeing rigidly secured to theside portion 2 of an airplane fuselage. Structure 2 is provided with abearing portion 3 and an internal ring gear 4. Bearing portion 3contacts bearing rollers 5 and 6 supporting the turret for full rotationabout its axis of symmetry. Controlled rotation of the turret isaccomplished by internal ring gear 4 on Structure 2 acting inconjunction with a suitable drive pinion (not shown) rotatably carriedby the turret. Annular ring 8, in which rollers 5 and 6 are mounted,provides a base for all additional turret structure. Gun cradle 9 isintegral with annular ring 8 forming a support for gun assembly 10.Pivot axis 11, common to gun cradle 9 and gun assembly 10 allows gun 12,mounted rigidly in gun assembly 10, to move in a plane normal to pivotaxis 11. Enclosure 13 which forms a part of turret 1 is provided with aslot 14 through which the barrel of gun 12 projects. The unconventionalmounting position of turret 1 and the fragile arming equipment (notshown) mounted therein makes necessary a power operated means forejecting shell cases out of the turret, the means being hereinafterreferred to as ejector mechanism 15. Ejector mechaframe 16 pivoted at 16at its upper end to gun assembly 10 adjacent the normal ejector opening17 of gun 12 mounted'in gun assembly 10. A pair of opposed conveyerbelts 18 and 19 are mounted on frame 16 and are adapted to positivelygrip the ejected cases, orient them endwise, and convey them to themouth of an elongated ejection tube 20 from which they are dischargedoutwardly of the turret structure. Suitable baillesVto be described indetail herebelow, are provided for insuring that the ejected cases willenter between the conveyer belts and for cooperatejected cases. Conveyerbelts 18 and 19 are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinalmedian plane of the ejection slot, and as shown in Figure 3, aresupported at their entrance end by pulleys 21 and 22 mounted forrotation about axles 21 and 22 and having their contacting surfacesmeeting the ribbed formation of the belts surfaces. Axles 21 and 22 maybe adjusted to tension the belts by cams 23 and 24 pivoted on bolt-likeaxles 25 and 26 secured to frame 16. Pulley supports 27 and 28 areprovided with guide slots 29 through which bolts 30, secured to frame16, extend to hold the pulley supports in position after cams 23 and 24have been properly adjusted against seating surfaces 31 and 32. Pulleys21 and 22 may be adjusted toward or away from one another to vary thespacing between belts 18 and 19 by eccentric cams 33 and 34 mounted onpulley supports 27 and 28 supporting the axles 21 and 22 for pulleys 21and 22. Conveyer belts 18 and 19 are supported near the exit end ofconveyer mechanism 15 by non-adjustable pulleys 35 and 36 having shafts35 and 36' suitably journalled in the frame 16. Shafts 35 and 36' havesecured thereto spur gears 37 and 38 meshing with one another andproviding a means of driving conveyer belts 18 and 19 in opposeddirections. To prevent belts 18 and 19 from sagging midway between thepulleys, ilat springs 39 and 40 contact the inner surfaces of the beltson the inner runs as shown in Figure 3. Springs 39 and 40 are supportedby bolts 30 which, as mentioned, Conveyer belts 18 and 19 are operatedthrough a spur and bevel gear train 41 to 44 inclusive meshing with gear38 on pulley 36. The power is supplied by an electric' motor 45 throughshaft 46. Electric motor 45 is securely mounted by bolts 45 to frame 16.Ejection tube 2t) is rigidly attached to frame 16 of ejector mechanism15 adjacent the exit end of conveyer belts 18 and 19 and extends into anoutlet sleeve i7 which is pivoted to turret enclosure 13 as shown 1nFigure 1. Pin 48 secured to tube 20 slides in a suitable slot formed incam 49, thus stabilizing ejection mechanism 15 as it moves relative tothe turret due to movement of gun 12. Cam 49is supported by bracketstructure 49 rigidly carried from the turret within the enclosure 13.

As gun 12 is rotated, the position of ejection mechanism 15 changesangularly'with respect to ejection slot 17 making it more diicult forconveyers 1S and 19 to grip the cases ejected by gun 12. To insurepositive and dependable action by ejection mechanism 15, suitablebattles are used. Aft baiiie 5t) is pivoted at 50 to gun assemblyadjacent the aft end of ejection slot 17 as shown in Figure 1, and isfastened to ejection mechanism by pin 51, extending through a slot 52formed therein as shown in Figure 2. Bafe 50 is formed of two sectionsarranged to telescope with one another to alord greater overall movementof ejection mechanism 15 with respect to pivot 50. Spring 53 connectingwith pin 51 and frame 16 tends to keep bafe 50 in its fully extendedposition.

Forward baille 54 is pivoted at 54' on one end to gun assembly 10adjacent the forward end of ejection opening 17 as shown in Figure 1 andon the other end to the frame 16 by pin 55 extending through slot 56therein. Bale 54 is also formed of two sections arranged to telescopewith one another to provide for greater movement of ejection mechanism15. Spring 57 connecting with pin 55 extends to connect with frame 16 asshown in Figure l. Adjacent ejection slot 17 baffle S4 has ears 58extending on either side of ejection slot 17 towards aft baille 50, thespacing between these plates 58 being such that they enter betweenconveyer belts 18 and 19. A secondary baiiie 60 is pinned at pivot 59offset from pin 54' towardA the forward portion of ejection slot 17 asshown in Figure 2. Baflie 60 is a flat metal bar extending from itspivot axis 59 to a seating surface on baille 54. -To provide a means fororienting shell cases endwise as they are ejected, resilient guide forks61 and 62 are employed. Both guide forks are identical and both extendbetween the inner runs of conveyer belts 18 and 19. These guide forksare rigidly secured to frame 16 adjacent the opening to ejection tube2t) and extend towards baflies 50 and 54. Guide fork 61 contacts aseating surface on baie 50 and fork 62 contacts the tlat bar bafe 60.

The operation of the machine of this invention is obvious from thedescription given hereinbefore. Turret 1 is rotated by means previouslymentioned to orient gun 12 in the proper place for tiring on a target.Then gun 12 moves about its pivot axis 11 until the firing patternintersects the target. Ejection mechanism 15 pivoted to gun assembly 10as shown in Figure 1 moves when gun 12 pivots in itsplane, independentof the rotation of t turret 1. The arrangement of pivot 16 with pivot 11keeps ejection mechanism 15 adjacent ejection slot 17 irrespective ofthe movement of gun 12. When gun 12 is swung to tire at angles near theturrets polar axis the ejector mechanism is angularly `out of alignmentwith ejection slot 17. To compensate for this condition, the baffles areemployed to direct the shell cases between the conveyers. The ears onbaflie 54 close the space left open by the gun rotating a larger amountthan the ejection mechanism. Batlle 6i) protects bafe 54 from the impactof the cases, being especially necessary at critical positions of thegun when the batlie is in an extended position. The curved contours ofthe guide forks extending to contact the baffles provide a gradual andpositive orientation of the cases to eliminate binding as they enterejection tube Ztl. When pivot axis 16 moves in its circular arc aboutpivot axis 11, the ejector 15 together with discharge tube 20 will movesomewhat with respect to the turret. Such motion is freely permitted bythe mounting arrangement shown, tube 20 sliding in or out of sleeve 47and being guided in its motion by the pin and Slot connection 48, 49.

While but a single embodiment of the invention has been specicallydescribed, it is believed obvious that many changes and substitutionscould be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as detined by the claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising asupporting structure, a gun assemblypivoted to said structure, said gunassembly including a gun, said gun having an ejection slot formedtherein, an ejecting mechanism including a frame having one end portionpivoted to said gun assembly, means supporting the opposite end portionof said frame from said structure, a pair of opposed conveyers supportedby said frame and having one end arranged adjacent said ejection slot toreceive therebetween cases ejected from said slot, said conveyers havingtheir inner runs moving in a direction generally away from said ejectionslot, means for operating said conveyers, and guide means associatedwith said conveyers for guiding ejected cases therealong.

2. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising asupporting structure, a gun assembly pivotally supported thereon, saidgun assembly including a gun, said gun having an ejection slot formedtherein, an ejecting mechanism including a frame having one end portionthereof pivoted to said gun assembly adjacent said ejection slot at apoint offset from said gun pivot, means supporting theY opposite endportion of said frame from said structure, a pair of opposed conveyersmounted within said frame and having their inner runs moving in adirection generally away from said ejection slot, means for driving saidconveyer, and guide means associated with said conveyers for guidingejected cases therealong.

3. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising asupporting structure, a gun assembly pivotally supported thereon, saidgun assembly including a gun, said gun having an ejection slot formedtherein, an ejection mechanism including a frame having one end portionpivoted to said gun assembly, a pair of opposed conveyers supported bysaid frame and having one end adjacent said ejection slot, saidconveyers having inner A runs moving in a direction generally away fromsaid ejection slot, means for operating said conveyers, guide meansassociated with said conveyers for guiding ejected shell therealong, anejection tube rigidly mounted on said frame adjacent the other end ofsaid conveyers and extending to said structure, and 'means supportingsaid ejection tube on said structure.

4. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising a turrethaving a gun assembly pivotally mounted therein, said gun assemblyincluding a gun, said gun being provided with an ejection slot, anejection mechanism including a frame having an end portion thereofpivoted to said gun assembly adjacent said ejection slot, a pair ofopposed-conveyers mounted within said frame and having their inner runsmoving in a direction generally away from said ejection slot, means foroperating said conveyers, an ejection tube tixedly attached to saidframe adjacent the exit end of said conveyers, said tube extendingthrough an opening in said turret, means supporting said tube from saidturret, baffles slidably attached to said .frame and pinned to said gunassembly, and guide means associated with said conveyers for guidingejectedV cases therealong.

5. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising a turrethaving a gun assembly pivotally mounted therein, said assembly includinga gun, said gun being provided with an ejection slot, an ejectionmechanism including a frame having an end portion thereof pivoted tosaid gun assembly adjacent said ejection slot, said end portionpivotbeing offset from said gun assembly pivot, means supporting theopposite end portion of said frame of said ejecting mechanism, a pair ofopposed Y veyers, and

conveyers mounted within said frame having one end thereof adjacent saidejection slot, said conveyers having their inner runs moving in adirection generally away from said ejection slot, means for operatingsaid conguide means associated with said conveyers for guiding ejectedcases therealong.

6. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising a turrethaving a gun assembly pivotally mounted thereon, said assembly includinga gun having an ejection slot provided therein, an ejecting mechanismincluding a frame having one end portion thereof pivoted to said gunassembly adjacent said ejection slot, a pair of opposed conveyersmounted within said frame having one end thereof adjacent said ejectionslot, said conveyers having their inner runs moving in a directiongenerally away from said ejection slot, an ejection tube rigidly mountedto said frame adjacent the exit end of sai-d conveyers, said tubeextending through an opening in said turret, means for supporting saidtube, and guide means associated with said conveyers for guiding ejectedcases therealong.

7. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising asupporting structure, a gun assembly pivotally supported thereon, saidgun assembly including a gun, said gun having an ejection slot formedtherein, an

ejection mechanism including a frame having one end portion pivoted tosai-d gun assembly adjacent said ejection slot at a point oiset fromsaid gun assembly pivot, a pair of opposed conveyers mounted within saidframe, one end thereof adjacent said ejection slot, said conveyershaving their inner runs moving in a direction generally away from saidejection slot, an ejection tube rigidly mounted on said frame adjacentthe exit end of said conveyers, said tube extending through an openingin said turret, means for supporting said tube, and guide meansassociated with said conveyers for guiding ejected cases therealong.

8. Apparatus for disposing of empty cartridge cases comprising asupporting structure, a gun assembly pivotally supported thereon, saidgun assembly including a gun, said gun having an injection slot formedtherein, an ejection mechanism including a frame having one en-d portionpivoted to said gun assembly adjacent said ejection slot at a pointoffset from said gun assembly pivot, a pair of opposed conveyers mountedwithin said frame, one end thereof adjacent said ejection slot, saidconveyers having their inner runs moving in a direction generally awayfrom said ejection slot, an ejection tube rigidly mounted on said framea-djacent the eXit end of said conveyers, said tube extending through anopening in said turret, means for supporting said tube, a pair ofbaffles slidably pivoted to said frame and pivotally connected to saidgun assembly adjacent said ejection slot, guide forks secured to saidframe adjacent said exit end of said conveyers, extending therebetweenand contacting said baies.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

